Post Op Care for Tympanoplasty/Mastoidectomy or Mastoidtympanoplasty

ACTIVITY

You may resume normal activities in 5 days, except for the following restrictions, which should be followed for 1 month postoperatively.

1. Do not lift anything heavier than 15 pounds.
2. Do not bend at the waist. Bend at the knee if you need to reach something on the floor.
3. Do not blow your nose.
4. Sneeze with your mouth open.
5. No water in the ear.
6. For those patients who have had ossicular reconstruction it is most important to avoid any activity that would put you at risk of falling or being hit in the head. No jogging or jarring motion.

DRESSINGS

1. The large dressing over the ear and the wound drain will be removed in our office the day after surgery.
2. Use prescribed ear drops after dressing removal. After using drops, place a new, clean cotton ball in the ear canal.
3. Ten to fourteen days of drainage is normal. The first few days, you may need to change the cotton ball more frequently. Each day it will be less in amount. The color of the drainage will change from red to yellow to clear, and then stop.
4. Keep water out of the ear by using ear plugs.
5. Your incision may be behind your ear. You may clean the incision with peroxide on a Qtip to remove blood clots followed by a light coating of polysporin ointment twice daily. If you have Steri Strips over the incision you do not need to clean them with water or apply ointment over them. Steri Strips will come off on their own or may be removed after 10 days.

DIET

There are no dietary restrictions. Resume your normal diet as soon as you are able. You may want to start out with clear liquids and progress as tolerated.

MEDICATION

There is usually not much pain with ear surgery. You will, however, be provided with pain medication when you go home. Do not take aspirin related products.

Finish all antibiotics as prescribed and use pain medication as needed.

Resume your other medications as prescribed by your primary care physician the day after surgery unless otherwise instructed.

When to call the office

Our emergency after hours number is 770-345-6600 or 770-429-2553

1. You should contact our office if the patient experiences any bright red bleeding, (pink drainage is normal, but bright red active bleeding is not).
2. You should contact our office if you develop a fever greater than 101.0
3. You should contact our office if you have excessive nausea and/or vomiting that lasts for more than 8 hours.